Agriculture (Food & Animals)

BIOTERRORBIBLE.COM:
In
the aftermath of man-made bio-terror generated pandemic, the government and
media will be feeding the public any number of different scapegoats allegedly responsible
for the pandemic that will likely kill millions.

Title: Law Enforcement’s Role In Defending Against Bio-Terrorism Threats To America’s Livestock IndustryDate: 2002Source:Homeland Security

Abstract:

What Is the Threat?There is general agreement among agriculture experts that the greatest
biological threat to our country’s agriculture economy is foot-and-mouth disease
(FMD). This highly contagious, viral disease attacks cloven-hoofed
animals (cattle, swine, and sheep), as well as wildlife such as deer and
elk. The FMD virus has a remarkable capacity for remaining viable in
carcasses, in animal byproducts, in water, in straw and bedding, and in
pastures. Early indications of FMD are excessive salivation and
lameness. Infected animals usually refuse to eat or drink, and their
movement is severely restricted, resulting in a dramatic weight loss.
Milk production in dairy cattle will also decrease or stop.

An outbreak of FMD, either by intentional introduction of a virus or by
accident, would bring our nation’s economy to a virtual standstill.

Dr. Jerry Jaax, a research veterinarian at Kansas State University and
an expert in the field of biological warfare, has presented compelling
testimony to Congress concerning the potential disaster that FMD poses
to our livestock industry. “In terms of an economic impact, it would be
devastating. Any outbreak of FMD could mean the destruction of thousands
of animals, immediately impact our capacity to export agriculture
products, and create severe financial losses in only a matter of days
and weeks,” Jaax stated. He cited the 2001 FMD outbreak in the United
Kingdom as an example of the possible fallout for any agriculture
economy. “The outbreak in the UK took almost nine months to eradicate,
and their economy will suffer for years to come.”

Where’s the Beef (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Cattle Report, 19 July 2002)

1. Texas: 15.0 Million head of cattle

2. Nebraska: 7.0 Million head of cattle3. Kansas: 6.6 Million head of cattle4. Oklahoma: 5.6 Million head of cattle5. California: 5.2 Million head of cattle6. South Dakota: 5.0 Million head of cattle7. Missouri: 4.7 Million head of cattle8. Iowa: 4.0 Million head of cattle9. Wisconsin: 3.6 Million head of cattle10. Colorado: 3.1 Million head of cattle11. United States Total: 105.2 million head of cattle

George
Teagarden, Kansas Livestock Commissioner, outlined the emergency
response procedures that are in place to deal with an outbreak of FMD in
the state of Kansas. He explained that all movement of livestock would immediately be halted and that a six-mile
quarantine zone would be established surrounding the point where FMD
was detected. At the center of the quarantine zone, a “kill zone” would
be established where all cloven-hoofed animals would be destroyed.
Teagarden emphasized the extent of a quarantine around the area—no
animal movement from the affected area, and no movement of equipment or
vehicles from the affected area. Only persons who have been fully
decontaminated would be allowed to leave this area. Teagarden further
explained that a full quarantine is necessary because the FMD virus can
be carried or transmitted in several ways—on a person’s clothes, shoes,
or boots and on tires of equipment, trucks, and other vehicles. “It is
critical that all movement of livestock be halted in order to prevent
further spreading of this highly infectious virus,” he stated. Teagarden
explained that the movement of livestock from other states into Kansas
would also be stopped, requiring coordination between law enforcement
agencies in the surrounding states.

Jaax and Teagarden both cited the sweeping impact of the FMD outbreak in
the United Kingdom. In England, FMD was originally detected at a hog
farm in February 2001, and it quickly spread. Throughout the UK,
virtually all exports of products related to sheep, swine, and cattle
were stopped following the outbreak, and they will not resume for some
time.

What Is Foot-and-Mouth Disease?FMD is a serious animal health problem in several countries of the
world. This viral disease is caused by livestock inhaling or otherwise
coming in contact with the virus. It is usually contracted via the
respiratory system and is rapidly contagious from animal to animal. It
causes severe blisters, called vesicles, in the mouths and hooves
of the infected animals, and FMD severely cripples animals, thus
limiting their mobility and curtailing their capacity and desire to
consume food. Although extremely painful to animals, FMD is not infectious to humans.

Teagarden has been conducting a series of educational meetings
throughout the state in an effort to alert livestock producers and
feedlot operators about the serious threat of FMD. Dr. Kevin Varner, USDA veterinarian, and Dr. George
Kennedy, Kansas State veterinarian, join Teagarden in presenting
helpful information. Kennedy was one of the U.S. veterinarians sent to
England to help contain the FMD outbreak there.

These presentations focus on:

1. The need for each livestock producer and feedlot operator to develop a bio-security plan as a preventive measure against FMD2. The importance of early detection and understanding warning signs of FMD in cattle, hogs, and sheep3.
Understanding the emergency plans to be implemented by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Kansas Animal Health Department,
and Kansas law enforcement in the event of an outbreak of FMD

As a means to prevent his type of threat to our economic infrastructure, these countermeasures are recommended:

1. Intelligence. Develop an information-sharing system concerning suspects and suspicious activity.2. Surveillance.
As the first line of defense, local livestock producers and
veterinarians need to develop a bio-security plan. Everyone must be
aware of the risks and symptoms associated with infectious diseases.3. Rapid diagnostic capabilities. On-site diagnosis must be conducted, with confirmatory tests conducted at the USDA Laboratory in Plum Island, New York.4. Rapid incident response.
Local, state, and federal agencies will quickly respond, in accordance
with K.S.A. 47-611, to contain and eradicate any outbreak of a foreign
animal disease. The Kansas Livestock Commissioner will coordinate this
response.5. Training. All members of
the livestock industry must be provided with a continuing form of
training and timely updates concerning possible biological threats.

What Is Law Enforcement’s Role in Helping Prevent Harm to America’s Agriculture?If an outbreak of FMD were deemed an act of terrorism, the FBI would
assume overall responsibility for the law enforcement response and for
conducting the criminal investigation. Presidential Decision Directive 39, signed on 21 June
1995, designates the FBI as the lead federal agency for managing the
operational response to an attack from a terrorist or use of a weapon of
mass destruction against the United States.

As part of a coordinated response to a biological attack on agriculture, law enforcement officers would play any number of roles, including:

1. Providing security and implementing a quarantine for the infected area2. Assisting in the conduct of a criminal investigation3. Providing assistance requested by federal agencies, such as the USDA4. Providing assistance requested by state regulatory agencies5. Conflict resolution

What Is the Legislative Authority?During
the 2001 legislative session in Kansas, House Bill No. 2468
was passed and signed into law, establishing clear and specific
responsibilities for agencies responding to a declared state of
emergency caused by animal diseases. This bill, amending K.S.A. 47-611,
defined criminal conduct relative to animal health issues and made it a criminal act (level 4, nonperson felony) to expose any animal in this state to FMD. It states further that “the governor will utilize all available resources
of the state government to cope with the disaster.” The Kansas
Livestock Commissioner would be empowered by the governor to directly
manage emergency operations during an outbreak of FMD or other form of
foreign animal disease in the state.

A more critical role for Kansas law enforcement would occur before an act of bio-terrorism, by gathering intelligence that would hopefully prevent an outbreak of some intentionally introduced foreign animal disease. Kansas’ livestock industry is made up of five primary groups:

Agriculture-based
states are vulnerable to a foreign animal disease in a
number of diverse locations. Within the state of Kansas there are 462
feedlots, 104 meat-processing plants, 94 domestic elk or deer
facilities, and 55 livestock markets.

Preventing an attack or outbreak of a foreign animal disease should be
the primary focus of the agriculture industry working in concert with
local law enforcement.

In recent town meetings throughout the state, USDA officials and the
Kansas Livestock Commissioner have asked members of the livestock
industry to report any suspicious activities in the proximity of a
livestock operation to law enforcement authorities. This type of
information and pro-active intelligence would be essential to help
prevent an outbreak of an intentionally introduced foreign animal disease, rather than having to respond to a disaster after the fact.

Within federal regulations (28 CFR part 23), the KBI is
expanding its existing intelligence database, called KsLEIN (the Kansas
Law Enforcement Intelligence Network) to help identify any potential
threat to Kansas agriculture. The purpose of this database will be to
track suspicious activity and individuals reported to Kansas law
enforcement and to the KBI. This computerized network will also serve as
the repository for complaints and information from citizens concerning
suspicious activity. KsLEIN is being modified to add an intelligence
component related to bio-terrorism threats to Kansas agriculture.
Currently, there are 345 law enforcement agencies participating in KsLEIN.

Biological threats to agriculture represent a new challenge for Kansas
law enforcement, and it is important that we understand possible
threats, vulnerabilities, available resources, and likely scenarios. To
help with this understanding, several training sessions have been
initiated. The Ford County Sheriff’s Office hosted a regional seminar in
Dodge City involving law enforcement officers, livestock producers, and
feedlot operators in the west region. Officers were able to learn
firsthand about the potential threats and the impact of a bio-terrorism
attack on livestock. In turn, there was a mutual understanding by
livestock producers of the capabilities and resource limitations of law
enforcement agencies in the west region.

In October 2002, a joint training exercise was held in Dodge City
involving representatives from local, county, state, and federal law
enforcement agencies, as well as emergency management personnel, the
Kansas National Guard, USDA, representatives from the livestock
industry, and the Kansas Animal Health Department. The training scenario
focused on an intentionally introduced outbreak of FMD in western
Kansas.

“This exercise was a good opportunity to test our emergency response
plan, to define agency responsibilities, to identify limitations, and to
make changes for the future,” Ford County Undersheriff James Lane said.
One of the major problems identified in this training exercise was how
to effectively deal with the movement of livestock not affected by the
outbreak. For example, approximately 500 truckloads of cattle move through western Kansas every day.
“Stopping the movement of livestock requires contingency plans to
handle unloading, feeding, and caring for these cattle,” Lane said.
“This is an enormous logistical task, requiring advance planning,
cooperation, and coordination.”

Preventing and responding to threats to agriculture, particularly FMD,
represent a major law enforcement challenge. “The key for law
enforcement is understanding the complexity of the agriculture industry,
and developing new partnerships to help prevent any bio-terrorism
attack. Responding after the fact will be costly and difficult,”
Undersheriff Lane stated (Homeland Security, 2002).

Title: Bioterrorism Experts Head To AtlantaDate: March 25, 2002Source:UCLA

Abstract:Hundreds of health
officials descended on Atlanta this week for an annual conference on emerging
infectious diseases and were warned that terrorists might try to spread deadly
germs through the food supply.

Terrorists could try to make
the biological attack even more dangerous by taking down critical communications
systems, according to experts from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.

"The national system was
overwhelmed" by the anthrax scare last fall, said Dr. James Hughes, chief
of infectious diseases at the Atlanta-based CDC. "Clearly we learned that
we were not adequately prepared. This was a small attack."

The conference agenda, usually
filled with sessions on obscure diseases and small outbreaks, is dominated this
year by information on anthrax and smallpox -- considered among the most
dangerous terrorist agents.

The anthrax-by-mail attacks
killed five people last fall and sickened 13 others. The CDC said earlier this
month that a Texas laboratory worker handling anthrax specimens became infected
with the bacteria and is recovering.

Hughes said health experts
must consider the possibility of genetically altered germs, the release of more
than one agent at a time, or transmission through animals and the food supply.

To guard against deadlier
attacks, the CDC is distributing $918 million to state and local health
departments later this year and next year. The CDC is encouraging them to give
priority to upgrading labs and training health workers on how to recognize
diseases like anthrax and smallpox.

During and after the anthrax
mailings, the CDC was criticized for not communicating clearly to the public
about what was myth and what was a real danger. Hughes said some of the millions
of dollars to be doled out to prepare for bioterrorism must address
communication.

"Clearly, that was
something that did not work well during the anthrax attacks," he said.
"Our lives have changed. We will be prepared."

The conference also included a
refresher course on smallpox, a highly contagious and deadly disease not seen in
humans in a generation.

The CDC and a Moscow
laboratory hold stocks of the virus, and experts worry that samples could fall
into the wrong hands and be converted into a terrorist weapon.

Dr. Stanley Foster of Emory
University, who was part of the team that eradicated smallpox, said the United
States could react swiftly to a smallpox release, but other countries are
extremely vulnerable, with no vaccine or weak public health systems.

Three Johns Hopkins University
researchers suggested shutting down all air travel in and out of cities after
even one case of smallpox is reported to avoid rapid spread of the disease.

"We could easily have 100
million cases and 20 million deaths," Foster said. "Are we going to be
able to prevent it?" (UCLA, 2002).

Abstract: Little is being done to address the real threat of a
terrorist attack focused on the United States agriculture industry, said members
of a government-sponsored commission that met Friday to examine the state of
America's preparedness for terrorist action.

"I think the
panel has to come out strongly that there needs to be more attention paid to
these (agricultural threat) issues, and that these recommendations are just a
little bit of what is needed to be done," said Ellen M. Gordon,
administrator of the emergency management division of the Iowa Department of
Public Defense.

She spoke at the
quarterly meeting of an advisory panel that assesses U.S. domestic response
capabilities to terrorism that involves weapons of mass destruction.

"Literally, this
is an issue on which nothing is being done," said Gordon, who is also
president of the National Emergency Management Association.

The commission, also
known as the "Gilmore Commission," has been run by the RAND Corp. for
4 years under government contract, through the think tank's federally funded
National Defense Research Institute.

The commission's
recommendations have taken on new importance in light of the Sept. 11 attacks
and the deadly anthrax mailings that followed them last fall.

As a think tank that
supplies research and support for the initiative, and briefings on key issues,
RAND wields much influence over the commission's recommendations. At Friday's
meeting, RAND personnel briefed the commission on response capabilities for a
bioterror attack with smallpox, and on an ongoing survey on the responsiveness
to terrorism threats of emergency service personnel at the state and local levels.

In addition, a panel
subcommittee headed by Dr. M. Patricia Quinlisk, medical director and state
epidemiologist for the Iowa Department of Public Health, made several
recommendations for dealing with the threat of agricultural terrorism, an area
of particular interest to commission members.

Dr. Quinlisk said a
major problem is that while agricultural products are at risk for attack,
nothing is being done to study the threat.

"The perception
is that agriculture is at some risk, but there is no good idea as to what kind
of threat there may be," she said.

One recommendation
given to the commission was for an increase in funding for programs to study
the threat, evaluate the risks and establish proper responses. Another was that
more resources be committed to education and training for veterinarians about
animal-borne diseases that are not common in the United States and that could
be used to create an infectious agent or to contaminate food supplies.

The commission will
also consider creating a system to track outbreaks of animal diseases that is
based upon the health threat model used to track outbreaks of human infectious
diseases.

Members of the panel
noted that there are several federal agencies that have oversight of this area,
especially of processed foods. The Food and Drug Administration, Customs
Service and Department of Agriculture have jurisdiction over various aspects of
the food chain. None, however, have shown the willingness or ability to take up
this issue, they said.

Mike Wermuth, RAND's
project director for the Gilmore Commission, indicated that the Central
Intelligence Agency, for example, has made it clear that it has no interest in
addressing the threat of agricultural terrorism.

"As far as we
can tell there isn't any interest from the intelligence community," said
Wermuth.

Several of the
committee members agreed that the effort to protect agriculture, as well as who
should be responsible for that, should be better defined in federal statutes.

In addition to
agricultural terrorism, said commission chairman Jim Gilmore, the current panel
of the commission is also focused on the impact of new anti-terror policies on
civil liberties.

"We are focusing
intently on civil liberty issues to make sure these recommendations will have
the appropriate impact on the American people," Gilmore told United Press
International.

This was evident
during Friday's deliberations over a controversial recommendation for creating
a counter-terrorism information service that would be separate from the
Department of Homeland Defense, which is still being formed.

The proposed
counter-terrorism information service would be designed to gather intelligence
related to possible attacks from within the United States, and would be given a
mandate to collect raw intelligence data from law enforcement and other
sources. The agency would not, however, have the power to enforce laws.

During the debate
over the proposal, Gilmore said he opposes the idea because it needed to
"mature" before it can be considered. He added that that a key
dilemma with the proposal is the problem of how to handle intelligence on U.S.
citizens vs. that on non-citizens.

The proposal for this
new agency, and the recommendations on agricultural terrorism, will be further
scrutinized and revised before they are voted on later this year and become
official commission recommendations.

The Gilmore
Commission's fourth annual report is scheduled to be delivered to Congress and
the White House on Dec. 15. It will make recommendations on various issues
including the National Strategy for Homeland Security; the relationship of the
new Department of Homeland Security to other U.S. government, state and local
agencies and to the private sector; and the military's role in homeland
security (UCLA, 2002).

Title:Bioterror Targets May Be On FarmsDate: September 20, 2002Source:UCLA

Abstract: The United States is highly vulnerable to terrorist
attacks on its livestock and food crops and needs a national plan to identify
threats, direct research, gather intelligence and respond to outbreaks, a
committee of experts said yesterday.

A report by the
National Academy of Sciences said that while agricultural bioterrorism was
"highly unlikely to result in famine or malnutrition," it could have
"major direct and indirect costs to the agricultural economy."

The report also
cautioned that there could be "adverse health effects" caused by
agents -- such as anthrax -- that can move from animals to humans, as well as
"loss of public confidence in the food system ... and widespread public
concern and confusion."

The report, titled
"Countering Agricultural Bioterrorism," was prepared over the past
three years by the academy's National Research Council at the behest of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture. Parts of the original report dealing with
specific case studies were put in a classified annex withheld from the
published study.

"We thought
about it all along -- whether we were giving anybody a recipe for how to mount
an attack," said David R. Franz, a bioterrorism expert and NAS panelist
who is vice president of the Southern Research Institute. "You always have
to weigh your vulnerability against the need to educate people about what
they're up against and to overcome their natural reticence."

Reticence, however,
is no longer a problem, said Iowa State University veterinarian Harley W. Moon,
chairman of the 12-member NAS panel.

"September 11
fixed that," Moon said. "People became so urgent that they went ahead
on their own." But while "there's increased general awareness and
agency interaction," he added, "we need a national response, as
well."

In one sign of
increased intensity over agricultural bioterrorism, the Agricultural
Department's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service early this week was
able to enlist the help of veterinarians, hog farmers, state officials and
veterinary labs across the country to watch for evidence of swine disease from
genetically altered bacteria cultures stolen from a Michigan State University
lab a week ago.

The genetically
altered bacterium, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, can cause pneumonia,
encephalitis and death in pigs but is not dangerous to humans and is hard to
spread. "If you were going to pick a pathogen, this would not be high on
the list," said Ron DeHaven, deputy administrator at APHIS.

Nevertheless, because
of "the potential of it to be a bioterrorist event," DeHaven held a
conference call to enlist help from stakeholders at all levels of the pig
farming industry.

"If this had
happened 13 or 14 months ago, we probably wouldn't have thought twice about it,
but we have to assume the worst and be prepared," he said.

According to the NAS
panel, preparation requires a national coordinating center. Panelist R. James
Cook, a Washington State University plant pathologist, said the participants
wanted to make the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention their model. The
CDC is a research center and early warning system for outbreaks of human
disease.

"We don't know
what will happen or whether there will even be bricks and mortar," Cook
said. "We just need to be able to do what the CDC does
-- get the information we need in real time."

The panel noted that
the Agriculture Department already has a well-developed infrastructure to deal
with plant pathogens and animal diseases that come into the country
accidentally. These have included San Francisco's Mediterranean fruit flies, in
the early 1980s, to Florida's citrus canker in the 1990s and today's
mosquito-borne West Nile virus.

But the panel
cautioned that deliberate infestation demanded a far more extensive menu of
precautions, including stringent border monitoring, better overseas
intelligence and research to develop resistant plant strains and assemble
genetic libraries of likely "threat agents."

Agriculture Secretary
Ann M. Veneman noted in a statement that the department has several initiatives
similar to those outlined in the report, including identifying a priority list
of threat agents, allocating increased funds for bioterrorism research and
strengthening its laboratories.

"Because of these
aggressive efforts, our nation's food and agriculture infrastructure is
stronger today than a year ago," she said. "However, threats remain,
and we must work in a responsible and aggressive manner to continue
strengthening these programs."

The NAS panel's Moon
praised USDA for increasing funding to establish a network of diagnostic labs
-- five for livestock and five for plants -- that could be called on to make
quick assessments of dangerous pathogens even as they are discovered (UCLA, 2002).

Title: US Farms Called Vulnerable To terrorismDate: November 22, 2002Source:UCLA

Abstract: They scarcely seem like the classic tools of
terrorists: mooing cows, oinking pigs, and clucking chickens. But specialists
in public health and agriculture warn that the nation's livestock and crops
remain particularly vulnerable to terrorists, threatening the US agricultural
system with viral and bacterial infections that could cripple the economy.

Computer models show
that an infection such as foot and mouth disease, which decimated Britain's
beef industry in 2001, could sweep through 44 states within two weeks of its
introduction at a handful of farms in a single state, resulting in 48 million
livestock being put to premature deaths.

Although many of the
infections, including foot and mouth, pose no direct threat to human health,
the economic consequences would be ruinous, specialists said at the
Harvard-sponsored BioSecurity 2002 conference, and would seed considerable
doubt about the safety of the nation's food supply.

Foot and mouth virus
ravaged agriculture as well as tourism in England, forcing quarantine measures
against 10,000 farms and the destruction of 6 million cows, sheep, and pigs.

''It is a perfect
weapon for doing the kinds of things terrorists do,'' said Dr. Thomas J. McGinn
III, assistant state veterinarian in North Carolina. ''As a target, you can
imagine why they would hit something like this and as a weapon, they could
spread it wherever they want.''

Federal authorities
consider the threat so significant that defense against agricultural
bioterrorism has a special place in the newly created Department of Homeland
Security. Also, last summer, in an exercise conducted at the behest of Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, 40 veterinarians, emergency planners, and military
authorities convened for a boardroom drill to assess the potential impact of
bioterrorism targeted at farms and food processing sites.

The exercise, dubbed
Silent Prairie, assumed that the destruction could begin with something as
common as a cotton swab dabbed with viral particles.

The dean of the
Harvard School of Public Health is so troubled by those threats that he called
for the creation of an agency akin to the US Centers for Disease Control to
monitor the welfare of the nation's crops and plants. Barry R. Bloom, the
Harvard dean who served on a panel evaluating the threat of bioterrorism, told
hundreds of public health, military, and private security authorities at the
conference that the United States is woefully lacking in its ability to swiftly
identify contaminants being introduced into livestock and plants.

That remains the case even though
the potential for terrorists to cause illness and fear by infecting the food
supply became dramatically evident 18 years ago, when members of a fringe
religious cult spiked salad bars at 10 Oregon restaurants with salmonella. The
result: 750 people became ill.

The damage that could be wrought
by a more widespread attack, initiated at multiple sites, is profound, Bloom
and other specialists said. Agriculture
generates $1 trillion in economic impact annually, accounting for 13 percent of
the gross domestic product.

Farming is an
exceptionally porous industry from a security standpoint, with 24,000 livestock
ferried out of just one state, North Carolina, every day, destined for markets
across the world. If terrorists chose a virus such as foot and mouth disease,
it would spread with stunning efficiency. Studies have shown that the virus can
be carried by the wind up to 40 miles; once introduced to a herd, it is 100
percent infectious.

''If someone's
determined enough to get something in, they will get it in,'' said Dr. Cindy S.
Lovern, assistant director of emergency preparedness and response for the
American Veterinary Medical Association. ''Foot and mouth disease can be
brought in on a Q-Tip or the bottom of your boot. That's why it's so critical
to find it fast and to treat it quickly.''

Foot and mouth is
often not fatal to animals, but in the short term produces hideous blistering,
and in the long term, impairs their use as productive livestock. The disease
rarely produces severe illness in humans, although people can transmit it to
animals. Specialists at the BioSecurity conference conjured scenarios in
which other viruses and bacteria (including plague, anthrax, and tularemia)
could be introduced into animal populations, with the ultimate goal of
spreading illness to humans. That probably would prove not to be a particularly
efficient mode of transmission but would spawn considerable fear. Early
detection of a biological attack is paramount, specialists said.

But the arrival of
West Nile virus, blamed for sickening 3,700 people this year and killing more
than 200, demonstrates how unprepared the nation is for animal disease
outbreaks. Until Dr. Tracey McNamara began testing dead crows near the Bronx
Zoo, the emergence of West Nile had gone undetected. ''We still haven't done
what needs to be done,'' McNamara said. ''Everybody pays lip service that
animals can serve as sentinels of disease outbreak and bioterrorism, but it
seems to be a hard concept to fund'' (UCLA, 2002).

Title: WHO Issues Alert On Food TerrorismDate: January 31, 2003Source:BBC

Abstract: The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that
terrorist groups could try to contaminate food supplies and has urged countries
to strengthen their surveillance.

In a special report,
the leading UN health agency, said an attack using chemical or biological
agents in food could lead to people dying or contracting serious illnesses like
cancer.

The agency said it had not
received any specific warnings of such an attack.

But it added that it
viewed deliberate food contamination as "a real and current threat".

'Potential is There'

The 45-page booklet
entitled Terrorist Threats to Food (click for PDF file from WHO) warns of the potential
insertion of pesticides, viruses and parasites in food as "a way of
deliberately harming civilian populations".

It cites examples of
intentional food attacks of the past, including a salmonella outbreak in the US
state of Oregon.

In that incident,
more than 750 people became ill, after members of a cult contaminated
restaurant salad bars.

The WHO director of
food safety, Jurgen Schlundt, said the booklet was not designed to alarm but
rather to try to alert governments to boost their surveillance and emergency
response measures.

"There has
already been some examples of deliberate contamination of the food chain. It's
only very few, but there has been some examples. And we do know that the potential is there," he said.

"The way to try to deal with
it is to strengthen some of the systems that we already have in place, but they
need in some cases strengthening of certain areas."

Mr Schlundt added that natural
outbreaks show the potential dangers of food-borne disease.

He said about 1.5 million people
already die each year due to diarrhoea-related illnesses caught from eating
contaminated food.

The WHO says if terrorists
deliberately add harmful agents, many more people could be left suffering from
acute long-term effects, including paralysis, foetal abnormalities and
increased rates of chronic illnesses like cancer (BBC, 2003).

Title: U.S. Agriculture Could Be Vulnerable To
TerroristsDate: February 21, 2003Source:UCLA

Abstract: Could terrorists be lurking in fields and behind
barns, ready to poison the plants and animals that provide the source of the
nation's food?

It's not an
impossible scenario, says Michael Harrington, executive director of the Western
Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors.

"Nobody thought
anybody would crash a plane into the World Trade Center, either,"
Harrington said. "If someone were intent on attacking the agricultural and
food system it could be done."

Agri-terrorism could
damage the economy, kill people or make them sick, and cause the kind of
upheaval the nation went through when anthrax was found circulating through the
mail, he said.

"You don't have
to be a rocket scientist," said Harrington, who gave the keynote address
recently at the 2003 International Chile Conference in Las Cruces. "You
don't have to have access to nuclear materials."

Harrington said there
have been at least five acts of agri-terrorism in the United States and 17
worldwide.

In one attack, he
said, a radical group claimed responsibility for releasing Mediterranean fruit
flies in California. The quarter-inch Medfly attacks more than 250 varieties of
fruits, nuts and vegetables.

Agriculture accounts
for about $1 trillion in economic activity each year in the United States, he
said. As an example, he said, destruction of New Mexico's chili industry could
cause a local economic impact of at least $250 million.

Arturo Jurado, a Las
Cruces pepper farmer who is chairman of the New Mexico Chile Commission, said
the long-term impact would be at least 10 times greater.

"We have to be
prepared for it," he said. "The best thing is information ... knowing
neighbors, know what they're doing and when they're doing it."

Other vulnerable
areas include processing and transportation of food, Harrington said.

"The United
States has had and continues to have the safest food supply in the world, so
people are a little nervous talking about this, including myself," he
said.

Concern over
terrorist acts has caused the U.S. Agriculture Department to invest $328
million in agri-security, he said.

Researchers are
developing animal vaccines and looking at breeding animals and plants with
resistance to some toxic agents. Agricultural extension service agents are
developing emergency plans and educating themselves about potential risks.

Harrington said the
USDA and state agricultural schools are forming another emergency response
network.

Some see endless
possibilities for farm- and food-related terrorist acts.

"I think one of
the biggest places to start is the international foods coming in," said
Wes Eaton, who works at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces and attended
the conference. "We need to
guarantee that it's not laced with something" (UCLA, 2003).

Abstract: A crop-duster sprayed a harmless substance above a
field of cattle and oil pumps Monday in a test to see if weather radar could
detect a bioterrorist attack.

It was the first spray of a
three-week Army test over central Oklahoma. The plane will make 261 runs,
dropping grain alcohol, clay dust and a mix of water and polyethylene glycol --
a common ingredient in lotions and mascara.

The harmless
materials were chosen to produce a mist resembling the airborne particles that
might be produced by a bioterrorism attack.

The test, taking
place in Oklahoma because of the state's advanced weather radar system, will
help Army and Environmental Protection Agency scientists determine how well
radar can detect such materials.

The new system would
keep track of small planes and tiny puffs of particles that typical radars
ignore. It will take weeks to analyze the data and determine how successful the
test was, Army officials said.

The goal is to
develop computer technology for a nationwide bioterrorism detection system,
said Robert Lyons, with the Army's nuclear, biological and chemical detection
program. The government hopes to install high-tech software in about 150 radar
stations across the country.

The EPA has conducted
similar tests in Maryland, Utah and Florida since early 2001, before the Sept.
11 terrorist attacks.

The government planned to start
the test Feb. 24. But after residents of Goldsby complained, officials
re-evaluated the program and deleted two of the originally planned test
materials -- powdered egg whites and a sterilized natural pesticide. Those
materials were sprayed over the ocean near Key West, Fla., last April with no
ill effects (UCLA, 2003).

Abstract:The goal of terrorists
is to strike fear in the hearts of their targets.This can take many forms.
They may wish to cause death, shock, economic disruption, loss of faith
in authorities, psychological trauma, dread, or just uncertainty.Perhaps
the act that would most readily accomplish this would be an attack on the
United States' food supply.Protecting the food supply has been a priority
for public health officials for decades.Traditionally, industry and regulators
have depended on spot-checks of manufacturing conditions and random sampling
of final products to ensure safe food.This system is seen as more reactive
than preventive because it finds problems after they have occurred rather
than as the food is being prepared.

So what is at stake? Here
are some interesting statistics about the food supply-chain in the United
States.These are just from just the Mid-Atlantic region.

The introduction by terrorists
of noxious or lethal materials into foods or beverages could result in
undetected, rapid and widespread distribution within the food supply-chain
that relies on distributed food production, processing and transportation
firms.There are really three types of terrorist threats to the food supply.

1. The use of food or water as a delivery mechanism for pathogens, chemicals, and/or other harmful substances for the purpose of causing human illness or death.2. The introduction of anti-crop or anti-livestock agents into agricultural systems.3. The physical disruption of the flow of food/water as a result of the destruction of transportation or other vital infrastructure.

So how vulnerable is our
food supply? That is a question that has been asked by scientists and government
officials.The answer lies in an analysis of the "food" supply-chain.The
supply chain begins with a vast number of producers (farms) and the numerous
transportation, processing and distribution facilities that are all part
of bringing the food to the point of consumption.It is estimated that
98 percent of all U.S.farms are family farms.This small, highly distributed
food production network creates security, monitoring and tracking challenges.
Very large factory farms make up only 3 percent of the total farms but
contribute more than 40 percent of the output.In addition to being vulnerable
to terrorist attacks, this system makes it exceedingly difficult to trace
back and identify the source of the contaminated food.

Figure 1 examines the likelihood
of a bioterrorism attack against the U.S.food supply and the impact of
such an attack.Four recent GAO reports found gaps in federal controls
for protecting agriculture and the food supply.Local, state and federal
officials must do even more to protect our food supply from tampering.
A new comprehensive approach is needed if we are to safeguard our food
supply.

The Public Health Security and
Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (the Bioterrorism Act)
directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to take steps to protect
the public from a threatened or actual terrorist attack on the U.S.food
supply.

Exempt from these regulations
are the transportation vehicles that hold food only in the usual course
of business.As you could imagine the ability to attack our food supply
while in transit from the production site is a critical area and possibly
the area that has the least amount of protection currently.It is important
to recognize that this is only one of many exceptions granted under the
act.

Protecting U.S.agriculture
and ensuring safe and wholesome meat and poultry is one of the primary
challenges facing USDA.The office of the Inspector General of the United
States Department of Agriculture's chief missions is to ensure the safety
of the food supply, both by auditing food safety programs to detect deficiencies
and recommend improvements and by investigating criminal activity involving
the intentional contamination of food products.They also monitor the processing
and sale of adulterated meat, poultry, and egg products; and the substitution,
adulteration or other misrepresentation of food products regulated or inspected
by USDA.

TechnologyThe Department of Homeland
Security in June 2004 announced the first Designations and Certifications
under the Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies (SAFETY)
Act.The SAFETY Act provides liability limitations for makers and sellers
of qualified anti-terrorism technologies, including those that may be used
to protect the nation's food supply.DHS is also developing a new National
Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) to support the law
enforcement and intelligence communities in their biodefense responsibilities.

The Center will apply the newest advances in science to the challenges
both of biological threat characterization and of bioforensics, strengthening
the nation's ability to determine the source of a biological agent used
in an attack and strengthening deterrence.In June 2004, DHS announced
its new Regional Technology Integration (RTI) initiative.RTI provides
a mechanism for working directly with urban areas on infrastructure protection
(including protection of the food supply) to develop and deliver new technologies
as part of a regional security response.The program focuses on regional
collaboration, private sector solutions, measurable objectives and continuous
evaluation, and communicating best practices and lessons learned to other
communities, states, Congress, the Administration, and other federal agencies.

The support is there.Now
all that is needed is a workable platform that can provide an economically
feasible solution to safeguarding our food supply.A critical component
of this platform will, without question, be a GIS system that supports
tracking and traceability.Incorporated into the platform will also be
RFID capabilities to trace the product throughout the food supply-chain.
These hybrid tags will also serve to detect tampering and integrated with
new biosensors will alert food processors to possible contaminates.But
this platform will not be cheap.The question is can the platform be developed
and implemented in time to protect the population from a bioterrorist attack
against our food supply? Only time will answer that question.

ConclusionThe food supply is by far
the most vulnerable to a bioterrorism attack.This year we learned from
news reports that terrorists have developed materials to manufacture salmonella
and botulinum, and they may have intended to poison the food supply.Even
more alarming was a Washington Post article on biological weapons
developed by the South African government under the apartheid regime, including
a biological agent created by splicing a common strain of E.coli with
a toxin-producing gene from Clostridium perfringens.These are only a handful
of examples of food bioterrorism that demonstrate the health and economic
damage that could be inflicted through an attack on the food supply.

We need to continue to strengthen
our food supply surveillance systems and improve communication and coordination
among local, state and federal agencies to heighten the ability to recognize
and quickly respond to food-borne outbreaks.This will not be cheap or
able to be accomplished in a short period of time (Directions Magazine, 2004).

Title: Agroterrorism: Threats And PreparednessDate: February 4, 2005Source:U.S. CongressAbstract: The
potential of terrorist attacks against agricultural targets
(agroterrorism) is increasingly recognized as a national security
threat, especially after the events of September 11, 2001. Agroterrorism
is a subset of bioterrorism, and is defined as the deliberate
introduction of an animal or plant disease with the goal of generating
fear, causing economic losses, and/or undermining stability. Attacks
against agriculture are not new, and have been conducted or considered
by both nation-states and substate organizations throughout history.

The
results of an agroterrorist attack may include major economic crises in
the agricultural and food industries, loss of confidence in government,
and possibly human casualties. Humans could be at risk in terms of food
safety or public health, especially if the chosen disease is
transmissible to humans (zoonotic). Public opinion may be particularly
sensitive to a deliberate outbreak of disease affecting the food supply.
Public confidence in government could be eroded if authorities appear
unable to prevent such an attack or to protect the population’s food
supply.

Agriculture has several characteristics that pose unique
problems for managing the threat. Agricultural production is
geographically disbursed in unsecured environments. Livestock are
frequently concentrated in confined locations, and then transported and
commingled with other herds. Pest and disease outbreaks can quickly halt
economically important exports. Many veterinarians lack experience with
foreign animal diseases that are resilient and endemic in foreign
countries.

Agriculture and food production generally have
received less attention in counter-terrorism and homeland security
efforts. But more recently, agriculture has garnered more attention in
the expanding field of terrorism studies. Laboratory andresponse
systems are being upgraded to address the reality of agroterrorism.
Congress has held hearings on agroterrorism and enacted laws and
appropriations with agroterrorism-related provisions. The executive
branch hasresponded by implementing the new laws, issuing several
presidential directives, and creating liaison and coordination offices.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has studied several issues
related to agroterrorism.

Appropriations and user fees for USDA
homeland security activities have about doubled from a $156 million
“pre-September 11” baseline in FY2002 to $325 million in FY2004. Two
supplemental appropriations acts added nearly $110 million in both
FY2002 and FY2003. For FY2005, the department requested $651 million in
appropriations and user fees, but only certain agroterrorism-related
items were specifically mentioned in committee reports. The President’s
budget proposal for FY2006 will summarize the enacted FY2005 homeland
security funding for USDA.

In addition to appropriations
activity, bills addressing agroterrorism preparedness and coordination
among agencies are likely to be introduced in the 109th Congress. A GAO
report on coordination between USDA and DHS is expected by March 1,
2005. This report will be updated as events warrant (U.S. Congress, 2005). Title: Analyzing A bioterror Attack On The Food Supply: The Case Of Botulinum Toxin In MilkDate: April 20, 2005Source:PubMed

Abstract: We
developed a mathematical model of a cows-to-consumers supply chain
associated with a single milk-processing facility that is the victim of a
deliberate release of botulinum toxin. Because centralized storage and
processing lead to substantial dilution of the toxin, a minimum amount
of toxin is required for the release to do damage. Irreducible
uncertainties regarding the dose–response curve prevent us from
quantifying the minimum effective release. However, if terrorists can
obtain enough toxin, and this may well be possible, then rapid
distribution and consumption result in several hundred thousand poisoned
individuals if detection from early symptomatics is not timely. Timely
and specific in-process testing has the potential to eliminate the
threat of this scenario at a cost of <1 cent per gallon and should be
pursued aggressively. Investigation of improving the toxin inactivation
rate of heat pasteurization without sacrificing taste or nutrition is
warranted.

Among bioterror attacks not involving genetic
engineering, the three scenarios that arguably pose the greatest threats
to humans are a smallpox attack, an airborne anthrax attack, and a
release of botulinum toxin in cold drinks (1). The methods of
dissemination in these three scenarios are, respectively, the
person-to-person spread of a contagious disease, the outdoor dispersal
of a highly durable and lethal agent, and the large-scale storage and
production and rapid widespread distribution and consumption of
beverages containing the most poisonous substance known. The first two
scenarios have been the subject of recent systems modeling studies
(2–5), and here we present a detailed systems analysis of the third
scenario. For concreteness, we consider a release in the milk supply,
which, in addition to its symbolic value as a target, is characterized
by the rapid distribution of 20 billion gallons per year in the U.S.;
indeed, two natural Salmonella outbreaks in the dairy industry each
infected 200,000 people (6). Nonetheless, our methods are applicable to
similar food products, such as fruit and vegetable juices, canned foods
(e.g., processed tomato products), and perhaps grainbased and other
foods possessing the bow-tie-shaped supply chain (PubMed, 2005).

No. The United States
spends more than $1 billion every year to keep America’s food supply safe, but
even without terrorism, food-borne diseases cause about 5,000 deaths and
325,000 hospitalizations each year, according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC). Former Secretary of Health and Human Services
Tommy Thompson told a congressional terrorism panel in November 2001 that he
was “particularly concerned” about food-related terrorism, which could involve
either attempts to introduce poisons into the food supply or attacks that would
ruin domestically cultivated crops or livestock. Have there been past
terrorist attacks in the United States involving food?

Yes. In 1984, members of
an Oregon religious commune—followers of an Indian-born guru named Bhagwan
Shree Rajneesh—tried to influence a local election by poisoning salad bars with
salmonella bacteria to sicken voters. Although no one died, 751 people became
ill. There have been a couple of other attempts to deliberately contaminate
food with biological agents since World War II, but these have been criminal
acts, not terrorism.

There have been no
documented terrorist attacks on U.S. agriculture. But the number and variety of
food-borne illnesses and crop and livestock diseases make it hard to
distinguish terrorist attacks from natural events. It took a year for U.S.
officials to conclude that the Oregon attack was deliberate.

How
might terrorists attack the food supply?

The Oregon attack took
place at local restaurants, near the end of the food-distribution chain, but an
attack could occur at any point between farm and table. Imported food could be
tainted with biological or chemical agents before entering the United States,
or toxins could be introduced at a domestic food-processing plant. Crops or
livestock raised on American soil could also be targeted. Experts also worry
that terrorists might try to spread false rumors about unsafe foods via the
mass media or the Internet.

How
much damage could an attack on the U.S. food supply cause?

Some attacks could cause
illnesses and deaths, depending upon how quickly the contamination was
detected. But even attacks that don’t directly affect human health could cause
panic, undermine the economy, and even erode confidence in the U.S. government,
experts say. Agriculture exports amount to about $140 billion a year, and many
American jobs have at least an indirect connection to food and agriculture. A
1970s plot by Palestinian terrorists to inject mercury into Jaffa oranges
reduced Israel’s exports of citrus fruit to Europe by 40 percent, and a 1989
incident in which a shipment of Chilean grapes to the United States tested
positive for cyanide led to international trade suspensions that cost Chile
$200 million. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that an attack on
livestock—a successful attempt to infect American cattle with a contagious
disease such as foot-and-mouth, for example—could cause between $10 billion and
$30 billion in damage to the U.S. economy.

What
kinds of terrorists might mount a food-related attack?

We don’t know. Concerns
about such attacks have grown since September 11. Some forms of attack wouldn’t
require a large or highly skilled organization and could come from foreign
groups like Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network, domestic terrorists,
eco-terrorists, a cult-like group such as Oregon’s Rajneeshees, or an
unaffiliated individual—anyone who wanted to undermine the economy and spread
panic. Elsewhere, groups that have threatened agroterrorist attacks include
Tamil militants in Sri Lanka and British activists opposed to chemical and
biological warfare.

Who is
in charge of food safety?

The two main agencies
are the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is part of the Department of
Health and Human Services, and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), a
part of the Department of Agriculture. The FSIS handles meat, poultry, and egg
inspections, and the FDA inspects everything else. State and local agencies,
other federal bodies, and foreign inspection services are also sometimes
involved in food safety.

Many experts have long
favored consolidating food-safety programs in a single agency, and calls for a
consolidation have been repeated since September 11. But food manufacturers and
some members of Congress have grown accustomed to the current system and oppose
its overhaul (CFR, 2006).

Title: Responding To The Threat Of Agricultural BioterrorismDate: November 9, 2006
Source:Directions Magazine Abstract: In October 2004, Kevin Coleman discussed the susceptibility
of the U.S. food supply chain to bioterrorist attack. Given events
surrounding the recent E. coli outbreak in spinach grown in the U.S.,
now is an ideal time to revisit the subject of food safety by expanding
upon the place of agriculture in the United States and some of the ways
in which geospatial technology, and its practitioners, can address this
area of homeland security.

The vital roles played by agriculture (and those employed in that
sector of our economy) are largely underappreciated by many people.
These roles include the provision of food, maintenance of healthy
ecosystem function, and enhancement of aesthetic qualities. However,
the "selling point" most often used to convey the importance of
agriculture, and to capture the attention of decision makers, is simple
economics. Various reports published by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) show that
agriculture is a multi-billion dollar industry, with the total value of
agricultural products exceeding $117 billion dollars, and that of
agriculture and related industries topping $563 billion.

While many of the plant and animal products grown or raised in the U.S.
are used domestically, a significant portion is also exported to other
nations. In 2004, total U.S. agricultural exports were estimated at
$61.4 billion - with agriculture being one of the few trade sectors in
which the U.S. often exports a higher value commodity than we import.
While these national figures are certainly impressive, the economics of
agriculture is perhaps even more important at the state and county
scales. Consider, for instance, that farm income accounts for over 30%
of the total income in many rural U.S. counties.

So, the "grand challenge" for domestic food safety and security
programs is then twofold: To ensure access to a safe, reliable and
inexpensive food supply and, at the same time, to maintain the
profitability of plant and animal production systems. However, our
collective ability to meet this challenge is under constant threat.

We face, for example, the nearly impossible task of stopping invasive
pests and introduced pathogens from entering the country.
Unfortunately, the number of such introductions will not only continue,
but likely increase, if for no other reason than sheer logistics. In
fiscal year (FY) 2005, the U.S. imported nearly 27 million metric tons
of agricultural products (excluding wine and malt beverages). Of this
amount, significantly less than 5% was subjected to thorough
inspection. Despite this low inspection rate, the Department of
Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection agency seized a daily
average of over 1,100 prohibited agricultural products at ports of
entry in FY 2005, including 147 agricultural pests.

The financial impact of disease and pest management is significant,
costing the agricultural industry in the neighborhood of $3 billion per
year. The projected economic impact of one disease alone, Asian soybean
rust (first introduced into the U.S. in 2004), is upwards of $2
billion. This, and future introductions may result in restrictions on
domestic and foreign trade, disruptions in food production, changes in
consumer perceptions and confidence, and employment declines within all
aspects of agriculture and food markets.

Given the monetary importance of the agricultural sector, it is not an
overstatement to say that the economic well-being of the nation, and
that of many rural communities, is susceptible to significant
disruption. Several additional factors further expose U.S. agriculture
to the harm posed by natural and intentional introductions of pests and
pathogens. These "multiplying" factors include a genetic simplification
of planted landscapes and food animal lines that makes crops and
livestock more susceptible to disease, the difficulty of monitoring
plant and animal conditions (i.e., situational awareness) over large
geographic areas, and the concentrations of crops and livestock
production at local and regional scales.

One framework which can be used to plan for and execute our response to
agricultural biosecurity events is the emergency response cycle
outlined by hazards researchers. Here the term "hazard" is considered
broadly, and can be applied equally to natural events, technological
failures and biological agents. The cycle of emergency response begins
with "preparedness" - how people and places plan to deal with a hazard
event. Eventually, a disaster happens (such as a tornado) and it tests
how well we have prepared for that hazard. We respond to the emergency
by rescuing people and addressing other immediate threats to life, limb
and property. Following response is the recovery stage, which includes
"cleaning up" after the disaster and other efforts geared toward
getting back to "normal" conditions. Next, and often concurrent with
the later recovery activities, is the mitigation phase. Here, the
disaster and our reaction to it are assessed, and ways to improve
preparedness, response and recovery are identified. Finally we
transition back to the preparedness stage, await the next hazard and
begin the whole process again.

This same emergency response cycle can be used to guide our actions in
the event of a biological hazard and, I believe, contribute to an
operational definition of food safety and agricultural biosecurity:

"The ability to develop, maintain, and
execute a rapid and effective
emergency response to disease outbreaks and invasive species in order
to ensure a safe, constant, and profitable supply of food, feed, and
fiber." (Author's unpublished quote)

Geospatial technologies have played, and will continue to play, a key
role in the development, maintenance and execution of emergency
response cycles related to food security and agricultural biosecurity
events. One example that illustrates this role is a spatial model for
locating large-scale livestock carcass disposal sites.

Consider for a moment a scenario where Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is
detected in beef cattle within a commercial feedlot. After confirming
the diagnosis, the relevant state department of agriculture working in
conjunction with the USDA will implement some form of an animal carcass
disposal plan. That plan will involve destroying cattle from the
affected feedlot, as well as those from neighboring operations within
an established quarantine zone, to prevent the spread of the disease.
For some states, such as Kansas, the preferred disposal mechanism is
burial. The next logical question to ask, then, is where to bury as
many as several hundred thousand head of cattle found within the
quarantine zone?

To help solve this problem, we can view and simultaneously analyze a
series of thematic data layers in a GIS-based landscape suitability
model to prepare our emergency response. Geographical datasets
including environmental and cultural information related to soils,
geology, water resources, transportation networks, threatened and
endangered species, and population can be combined into automated
digital workflows using functionality built into commercial GIS
software packages. The model created for the State of Kansas currently
uses twelve data layers that represent "exclusion criteria" developed
by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). These data
are then subjected to various geoprocessing procedures to produce maps
that identify the cumulative geographic area falling within the spatial
extent of one or more of the predefined exclusion criteria - in other
words, the least preferred sites for carcass burial.

Running this model yields results such as that shown here for Finney
County, Kansas. Green areas on the map represent locations that do not
violate any exclusion criteria and, therefore, would be preferred
burial sites. Based upon the KDHE exclusion criteria, nearly 40% of the
county would be unsuitable for animal burial. It is important to note
that licensed animal feeding operations are required by the state to
develop a plan for onsite livestock burial. However, a visual
comparison between actual feedyard locations (not shown on map for
security reasons) and preferred mass burial locations indicates a
potential flaw in this strategy - and that onsite burial may not
actually be in the long term interests of regional populations.

Given the automated nature of this method, emergency managers now have
a sound procedure, based upon good science, for rapidly identifying
suitable burial sites before and during an event. The ability to
"pre-emptively" target preferred sites for burial is especially helpful
when negotations are required to obtain burial rights on private lands.

After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, several post-event
analyses have highlighted the importance of both GIS and geographic
data in providing rapid and effective emergency response. Summarized
from Galloway (2003), some of those key findings include:

1. Having geographic datasets for critical infrastructure already developed and on-hand prior to an emergency2. Having the human and information technology infrastructure in place to facilitate sharing geographic information3. The importance of graphical forms of communication, such as maps, in conveying information to both decision makers and the public4. Having made a "pre-response" investment in developing relevant decision support tools

We must take these hard lessons learned in the aftermath of intentional
attacks on urban centers and apply them equally, and urgently, to the
area of agricultural biosecurity. As noted by Senator Pat Roberts
(R-Kansas) in 2001, our nation’s crops and livestock are at very high
risk. It is time for the U.S. to make an appropriate investment in food
safety and security (Directions Magazine, 2006). Title: Al-Qaida's Food Bioterror Threat Looms Over UKDate: June 6, 2011Source: Times of India

Abstract:
Britain is facing an emerging food "bioterrorism" threat from extremist
groups like the al-Qaida, a media report said on Sunday.

The British government's security advisers have warned manufacturers
and retailers that terror groups might try to poison food, drinks supply
in the country to cause widespread casualties, 'The Sunday Telegraph'
reported.

The warning from Centre for the Protection of National
Infrastructure (CPNI), which operates as part of the security service,
came in the wake of deadly E.coli outbreak in Germany which has
highlighted the vulnerability of the food chain and how quickly bacteria
can spread, the report said.

The highly virulent strain has already claimed some 18 lives and left more than 1,800 seriously ill in Germany.

The CPNI has, in fact, asked food and drinks producers, suppliers and supermarkets to tighten security at plants and depots.

A CPNI said, "UK suffers from a low level of malicious contamination of
food by the bad, the mad and the sad. Now it has to consider
possibility of food supplies being disrupted by politically motivated
groups" (Times of India, 2011).

Abstract: An Illinois partnership between agriculture organizations and law
enforcement agencies hopes to protect Illinois food systems, farms and
consumers from the threats of agro-terrorism.

The Illinois Agro-Security Working Group looks to raise awareness of
these issues among those in the food production and agriculture
industries. The group, which is a service of the Illinois Farm Bureau,
was created to educate farmers on how best to report, recognize and
prevent terrorist and criminal activities related to Illinois
agriculture, Drovers reports.

“Illinois farms are more vulnerable to terrorist activity than most
people realize,” Dave Patton, the field operations manager with the IFB,
said, according to FarmweekNow.com.
“There have been some cases in other states where a person noticing
suspicious behavior has helped capture a would-be terrorist, so we know
agro-terrorism is a real threat.”

A brochure has been given to agriculture producers in the state that
provides information and resources in the battle against agro-terrorism,
including how to report suspicious activities and the signs of
illnesses.

“The brochure doesn’t necessarily provide farmers with a
comprehensive list of things to watch for, but it certainly gives them a
good starting point,” Jim Kaitschuk, the executive director of the
Illinois Pork Producers Association, said, according to FarmweekNow.com.
“Ultimately, our producers know their animals and their operations
better than anyone else and they need to be the instigators when it
comes to reporting any potential threat.”

Other organizations involved in the group aside from the FBI and the
IFB include the Illinois Pork Producers, Illinois Beef Association and
the Midwest Dairy Association (Bio Prep Watch, 2012).

Title:
Expert Warns Of Bioattack On U.S. Cattle IndustryDate: February 21, 2012Source:Bio Prep WatchAbstract: According to a
terrorism expert, a low-tech biological attack on the cattle industry of the
United States using virulent foot and mouth disease may be a simple way for
terrorists to damage the economy.

According to an article in the FBI’s Law Enforcement Bulletin, Dean
Olsen, a former commander of the Douglas County Sherriff’s Department in Omaha,
Neb., said that agroterrorism has become more attractive to terrorists dealing
with dwindling resources and leadership. Such an attack would lead to major economic
stress, but would be relatively simple and cheap to implement, Government Security News reports.

Olsen, who participated in the regional Joint Terrorism Task Force
before his retirement in 2008, recommended that law enforcement agencies put
plans into place to prevent such attacks before they happen. He said that
experts agree that foot and mouth disease, which can affect cloven hoofed
animals like deer, pigs, sheep and cattle, is the most ominous threat to the
food chain in the U.S.

Olsen said that an outbreak could be spread to 25 states in five days
when animals are moved from one farm to another. He warned that law enforcement
officers investigating livestock thefts should look at them from an agroterror
perspective and that such incidents should be reported to their state
intelligence fusion centers or threat-integration centers (Bio Prep Watch, 2012).

Abstract: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has revised an assessment of
the proposed high-level animal biosafety lab in Kansas, dramatically lowering
the assessed likelihood that Foot and Mouth Disease would escape.

In a 923 page risk assessment released on
Friday, the DHS estimated that the risk that FMD would escape from the National
Bio and Agro-Defense Facility during the facility’s 50 year lifespan was less
than 0.11 percent. When excluding catastrophic events such as tornadoes and
earthquakes, the risk drops below 0.008 percent, Nature reports.

The previous risk assessment in 2010 estimated
the risk of such an event was 70 percent. The National Academies concluded that
the 2010 assessment had multiple major shortcomings. The academies will
evaluate the new risk assessment later this spring.

“(The new risk assessment) reaffirms that we
can build a safe and secure facility to meet this important mission,” Tara
O’Toole, the DHS under secretary for science and technology, said, according to
Nature.

Bill Dorsett, a member of the group No NBAF in
Kansas, questioned the validity of the new assessment.

“There’s no way that an analysis can get it
down that precisely,” Dorsett said, according to Nature. “Because a big portion of the risk has to do with people and people’s
behavior. That starts with congressional funding for the lab — and continued
congressional funding for its maintenance. We’re trying to predict what
Congress will do ten years down the line.”

Congress provided the lab with $50 million in
funding in 2012 on the condition of the new risk assessment and its appraisal
by the National Academies. President Obama’s 2013 budget proposal did not
request any money for the construction of the lab. The proposal also impels the
National Academies to evaluate whether present disease threats justify the
potential $1 billion costs of the facility (Bio
Prep Watch, 2012).

Abstract:According to an editorial by Tom Quaife of
the Dairy Herd Network, the threat of agroterrorism should be taken much more
seriously by members of Congress and the Obama administration.

Quaife has attended
four agroterrorism conferences sponsored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
since 2005. Upon seeing the seriousness of the issue and simulations of how
quickly infectious animal diseases could spread within the United States, he
said that it has been difficult watching the uncertainty behind the proposed
animal disease testing facility in Manhattan, Kan., Dairy Herd Network reports.

“It’s been hard to
watch the political haggling that is taking place over the proposed National
Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kan.,” Quaife said, according to Dairy Herd Network. “The Obama administration wants to reassess the cost and scope of the
project and Congress has been slow to approve funding.”

According to Quaife,
if an international attack were to occur on the world’s food supply, it could
cost billions of dollars and undermine the public’s confidence. While Quaife
was comforted that the proposed state-of-the-art facility would be built to
address agroterrorism threats, he is concerned that the facility wouldn’t be
operational until 2018.

“The need is there
and a plan is in place to address it,” Quaife said, according to Dairy Herd Network. “It is time that the Obama administration and Congress start paying
attention to the threat and back it up with a solid commitment to the NBAF” (Bio
Prep Watch, 2012).

According to an FSIS news release Thursday, the fully cooked, ready-to-eat, halal beef products
were produced on March 20, 2012, and then shipped to a single distributor in
Detroit, Mich.

The products subject to recall are 2-lb vacuum-packed packages
containing two, 10-inch pieces of “Kubba of wheat”; and 20-lb cases, each
containing 10, 2-lb packages of “Kubba of wheat.” The packaging may
bear the case code 12082 and establishment number “EST. 21576″.

There have been no reports of illness.

Listeriosis, a serious infection usually caused by eating food
contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, is an important
public health problem. . The disease primarily affects older adults,
pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems. However,
rarely, persons without these risk factors can also be affected.

Food contaminated
with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled.
Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness
and nausea. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened
immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience
only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during
pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn,
or even stillbirth (Outbreak News, 2012).

Abstract: Experts meeting at
an agroterrorism summit held recently in Parlier, California, gave farmers and
farm workers advice on how to prevent a potential terrorist act.

They suggested
keeping a ledger available to record the license numbers of suspicious vehicles
or other information about suspicious activity. Heightened situational
awareness, they said, is the key to safety, according toWesternFarmPress.com.

Fresno County Sheriff
Margaret Mims told participants at the summit to take note if people are taking
photographs, videotaping, using binoculars or sketching, especially at places
such as storage areas.

“We’re not talking
about people taking pictures of blossoms,” Sheriff Mims said,WesternFarmPress.com reports. “See if people are doing surveillance or asking probing
questions about security. Trust your gut.”

Farmers were also
told to harden likely targets of theft or terrorism and to identify and mark
vulnerable assets. The establishment of controlled access points for delivery
vehicles and visitors was recommended.

Tom Knowles, a
retired agent with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, said that
authorities needed to know of any large livestock or crop losses that are not
related to weather (Bio
Prep Watch, 2012).

Title: FBI Says Not To Discount AgroterrorismDate: April 16, 2012Source:Bio Prep WatchAbstract: An expert on
weapons of mass destruction for the Federal Bureau of Investigation recently
said that, although the food sector is not a likely target for terrorists,
gaining access to the food supply would be relatively simple.

John Frank, the WMD
coordinator for the FBI mobile field office in Kansas, said that agroterrorism
is a threat not usually considered when people think of conventional terrorism,
according toExaminer.com.

“Agroterrorism is a
very big topic because if you think about the (agricultural) industry it covers
a huge span of things,” Frank said, Examiner.com reports. “It’s not just about animals; it’s not
just about crops. It’s much bigger than that.”

Frank, who spoke at a
town hall meeting in Healy, Kansas, is one of 56 WMD coordinators across the
country. He is the FBI’s contact point in his district regarding any
investigation of WMD incidents.

“Whether state or
local agencies, even the private sector, we get involved with special events
such as the Super Bowl or Mardi Gras,” Frank said, according to Examiner.com. “Anything you can think of–there’s a good chance the
FBI will have a presence there.”

Frank said that
overseas terrorists are generally not thought of as preparing to engage in
agroterrorism, but evidence suggests otherwise.

“It is accepted
within certain terrorist organizations in their mindsets,” Frank said,Examiner.com reports. “In 2002, Operation Enduring Freedom
recovered a lot of documents overseas that showed their interest in using
toxins and biological agents not only against humans, but against animals and
crops and food supplies. They have the interest and the desire to do it and
they know what they’re talking about” (Bio
Prep Watch, 2012).

Title: CFIA Warns Of Possible Botulism Contaminated Fish At North York GroceryDate: April 17, 2012Source:ExaminerAbstract: The Canadian Food
Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume certain vacuum
packaged fish products sold only at a specific North York grocery due to the
potential of Clostidium botulinum contamination.

According to a CFIA health hazard alert Monday, the products in question are North 44 brand Smoked Salmon McEwan’s Own
and Kristapson's smoked salmon sold in various weights.

These products were sold only at McEwan Gourmet Grocery Store located at
38 Karl Fraser Road, North York, Ontario.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of
these products.

Food borne botulism occurs when the bacterium Clostridium botulinum is
allowed to grow and produce toxin in food that is later eaten without sufficient
heating or cooking to inactivate the toxin. Botulinum toxin is one of the most
potent neurotoxins known.

Growth of this anaerobic bacteria and the formation of the toxin tend to
happen in products with low acidity and oxygen content and low salt and sugar
content. Inadequately processed, home-canned foods like asparagus, green beans,
beets, and corn have commonly been implicated. However, there have been
outbreaks of botulism from more unusual sources such as chopped garlic in oil,
chili peppers, improperly handled baked potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil and
home-canned or fermented fish. Garden foods like tomatoes, which used to be
considered too acidic for the growth of Clostridium botulinum, is now
considered a potentially hazardous food in home canning. Though more common in
home-canned foods, it happens only occasionally in commercially prepared foods.

Typically in a few hours to several days after you eat the contaminated
food you will start to show the classic symptoms: blurred vision, dry mouth, and
difficulty in swallowing. Gastrointestinal symptoms may or may not occur. If
untreated, the paralysis always descends through the body starting at the
shoulders and working its way down. The most serious complication of botulism
is respiratory failure where it is fatal in up to 10% of people. It may take
months before recovery is complete.

If the disease is caught early enough it can be treated with antitoxin.
If paralysis and respiratory failure happen, the person may be on a ventilator
for several weeks (Examiner, 2012).

Title: Oregon E. Coli Outbreak Now At 19, Four Children HospitalizedDate: April 22, 2012Source:Examiner

Abstract: The E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Oregon, which has been linked to raw milk from a Clackamas County farm, is now
at 19 victims according to Oregon health officials.

According to an Oregon Health Authority news release Friday, as of April 20, 2012, the Foundation Farm raw milk-associated
Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak has sickened 19 persons. Of these 11 have
culture-confirmed E. coli O157 infections; 15 of the 19 cases are in children
<19 years of age. Four children have been hospitalized with kidney failure.

The only common food item that all cases reported consuming was raw milk
produced by Foundation Farm; none of the other food items reported was consumed
by all the cases; and the households reported buying their food from a variety
of stores.

Health officials say pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) test
results show a single molecular pattern for eight of the human cases (three
others are pending). The same molecular type was identified in samples from the
farm (10 animal manure; two cattle rectal swabs; one swab of the milking
station) and from one from the leftover milk samples recovered from a
case-household.

Symptoms of the diseases caused by E.coli O157:H7 include abdominal
cramps and diarrhea that may in some cases progress to bloody diarrhea. The
infection may lead to a life-threatening disease, such as hemolytic uremic
syndrome (HUS). HUS is characterized by acute renal failure, hemolytic anemia
and thrombocytopenia. It is estimated that up to 10% of patients with E.coli
infection may develop HUS, with a case-fatality rate ranging from 3% to 5% (Examiner, 2012).

Title: Mad Cow Disease Found In California Dairy
CowDate: April 24, 2012Source:LA Times

Abstract: Federal officials
say a case of mad cow disease has been found in a dairy cow in the Central
Valley.

The animal was found
at a rendering facility, John Clifford, the USDA’s chief veterinarian, told
reporters Tuesday in a briefing in Washington. Its meat did not enter the food
chain and the carcass will be destroyed, Clifford said.

This is the fourth
confirmed case of the brain-wasting disease in the U.S. cattle herd since the
first case was discovered in December 2003 in an animal that came from Canada.

[Updated at 1
p.m.: The carcass “was
never presented for slaughter for human consumption, so at no time presented a
risk to the food supply or human health,” Clifford said in a statement.]

Mad cow disease, which humans can get by eating beef from infected
cattle, has killed 171 people and been responsible for the deaths of more than
4 million cattle, slaughtered in attempts to eradicate the disease.

Officially known as
variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the infection is caused by prion proteins
that cause the brain to start breaking down (LA
Times, 2012).

Abstract: The reemergence of
mad cow disease, discovered in a California dairy cow, could have major
implications for the state’s meat industry, even though officials have said
that the human food supply is unaffected.

Bovine spongiform
encephalopathy hasn’t been found in U.S. since 2006 and was discovered in only
three instances before then. But the disease has dealt a crippling blow to the industry in
the past, especially when foreign countries refused to import American beef
when mad cow was first uncovered in 2003.

The U.S. Department
of Agriculturetests about 40,000 cows a year in its effort to catch the
disease.

In California, private
and public ranching takes up about 38 million acres, according to the
California Cattlemen’s Assn. There are about 620,000 beef cows on 11,800
California ranches. The state also hosts 1.84 million dairy cows, according to
information compiled by the California Beef Council.

The sale of cattle
and calves was a $1.82-billion industry in California 2008 and fifth among the
state’s top 20 commodities. Beef cattle are raised in nearly every California
county.

Karen Ross, secretary
of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, quickly issued a
statement stressing that mad cow “is not transmitted through milk.” She also
pointed out that “milk and beef remain safe to consume.”

But food-related
scares, such as the recent uproar over pink slime and
various fruit and vegetable recalls, can be a publicity nightmare.

This organism most frequently associated with gas gangrene is also a
major cause of food poisoning. However, this intoxication is a little different
than those caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus where the
ingestion of preformed toxin causes the illness.

With C. perfingens intoxication is due to a toxin mediated infection
where the ingested bacteria colonize in the intestinal tract and subsequently
produce their toxin.

Almost all outbreaks are associated with inadequately heated or reheated
meats, usually stews, meat pies, and gravies made from beef, turkey or chicken.

Outbreaks of Clostridium perfringens food poisoning are usually trace to
catering firms, restaurants, cafeterias and schools with inadequate cooling and
refrigeration facilities for large-scale service.

After a period of 8 to 22 hours, this intestinal disease is
characterized by a sudden onset of colic followed by diarrhea and nausea.
Vomiting and fever are not usually present.

It is generally a mild disease lasting about 24 hours or less. It is
rarely fatal in otherwise healthy people.

However there is a more severe disease caused a different strain of C.
perfringens (type C strains). This disease can cause necrotic enteritis which
is frequently fatal. Also known as pig-bel syndrome, this strain can cause
necrosis of the intestine and can go septic.

In order to prevent getting Clostridium perfringens food poisoning the
following steps should be taken:

• Serve meat dishes
hot or cool them by refrigerating till serving.
• Large cuts of meat must be thoroughly cooked.
• For more rapid cooling of large dishes like stews, divide the stew into
several smaller, shallower containers and refrigerate (Examiner, 2012).

Title: Foot-And-Mouth Disease Vaccine Developed In
USDate: April 26, 2012Source:BBC

Abstract: With the US livestock industry on alert after
a diagnosis of "mad cow" disease in California, the BBC has gained
rare access to a high-security compound where a vaccine for another deadly
animal virus is close to completion.

Hijacked planes,
dirty bombs and cyber attacks are all terror threats the US takes very
seriously.

But there is another
that many Americans may not have considered - foot-and-mouth disease.

The illness is one of
the world's most contagious animal viruses. Although it does not infect humans,
an outbreak in the US could cost the economy more than $50bn (£31bn), experts
estimate.

To avert such a
calamity, scientists working for the US government have spent several years
developing a foot-and-mouth vaccine. It is expected to be licensed for use in
the next few months.

"This is
probably one of the most important innovations in the last 60 years in
foot-and-mouth disease," says Dr Luis Rodriguez, research leader of the
foreign animal disease research unit at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center,
where the vaccine has been developed under top security.

"FMD is one of
the largest burdens on animal health and production around the world. We pay
attention to it when it gets into non-endemic countries like the UK - and if it
ever came into the US it would be big news.

"But FMD is a
burden every day on the lives of millions people around the world."

Island Research
Foot-and-mouth causes havoc because it spreads so quickly. It infects
cloven-hoofed animals such as cows, pigs, sheep and goats. Infected livestock
have to be quarantined and are usually killed. Trade involving meat, dairy and
other animal products comes to a standstill.

Vaccines already
exist but are of limited use because veterinarians cannot distinguish vaccinated
animals from infected animals - both test positive for foot-and-mouth.

That makes it
difficult for a country to assure jittery importing nations its animals are
free from the disease.

The new vaccine will
come with an antibody test that will enable regulators to tell the difference,
the researchers say.

And it will also be
safe to manufacture in the US because it does not use the whole live virus and
cannot replicate, says Dr Larry Barrett, director of Plum Island, a US
Department of Homeland Security installation.

"In the US, you
can only work on FMD in an island environment, which is why we came here 60
years ago," he says. "They wouldn't allow us on the mainland."

A government-operated
ferry is the only way to reach the facility, north of New York's Long Island
and just off the coast of Connecticut. No food or drink is allowed off the
island to reduce the risk the virus will escape onto the mainland.

The vaccine works by
triggering an immune response. A part of the foot-and-mouth virus is placed in
a harmless vector - in this case a defective human virus.

The vaccine is then
injected into the animal, providing it with the relevant genetic information
its immune system needs to fight the foot-and-mouth virus.

"The animal
actually makes the vaccine inside its body by producing the FMD protein
necessary to create an immune response," says Dr Rodriguez.

"It's a very
good innovation - the most effective way to date and very promising technology.
I think it's going to revolutionise the way we look at FMD vaccines around the
world today."

British Effort
Research into new vaccines is also underway at the Institute for Animal Health
(IAH) in the UK. In 2001 Britain was hit by a severe foot-and-mouth disease
outbreak that devastated the farming and tourism industries.

More than 10 million
sheep, cows and pigs were slaughtered in an attempt to contain the outbreak.
Images of burning carcasses became the hallmark of the crisis.

"The British
government has funded this research so that we will have the tools available to
support a 'vaccinate to live' policy should we have another outbreak,"
says Dr Bryan Charleston, head of the livestock viral diseases program at the
IAH.

That goal is still some years away, he says, but new approaches and scientific
advances are giving cause for optimism.

The foot-and-mouth
virus is a genome surrounded by a coat of proteins. The new vaccines use only
the proteins - not the live genome part of the virus - which is why they are
safe to produce, the scientists say.

Dr Charleston's British
team is developing a vaccine that is produced in insect cells instead of a
defective virus. Like the vaccine developed at Plum Island, it is extremely
stable and can be deployed rapidly to stem an outbreak, he says.

"We have done
the same sort of thing as scientists at Plum Island," he says.

"We just got
there by a different route."

He hopes the vaccine
will offer a longer lasting immunity to foot-and-mouth that will make it
suitable for use in countries where the disease is endemic.

"In some cases
current vaccines are only effective for three to four months which means
livestock need to be vaccinated three or four times a year. The cost of
gathering the animals alone is significant - it's just not practical," he
says.

Only one major animal
disease has been successfully eradicated so far - rinderpest - but scientists
hope their work will one lead to the elimination of foot-and-mouth disease.

The last outbreak
foot-and-mouth in the US occurred in 1929 and the biggest risk of the disease
entering the country today comes mainly from infected animal imports.

There have been more
than half a dozen high alerts already this year when samples from animals
thought to be infected were flown by jet and helicopter to Plum Island for
testing. All the cases turned out to be false alarms (BBC, 2012).

Abstract: Part of
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was evacuated Friday morning after a
screener detected what he thought was an explosive in a piece of luggage.

Reuters reports that
after interviewing the passenger and opening the luggage, security officials
determined the device was not an explosive but actually a water filtration
system in the passenger’s checked baggage.

“The questionable
items in the bag were two PVC pipes capped at both ends filled with a granular
material,” airport spokesman Patrick Hogan told Reuters. “There were also
a number of wires in the bag that were not connected to the pipes.”

According to the
Transportation Safety Administration, the public area of the terminal was
cleared and approaching roads were closed temporarily during the incident to
ensure safety.

Terminal 2 is the
smaller of the airport’s two terminals, serving Southwest Airlines, AirTran,
Sun Country and Icelandair. The larger Terminal 1 was not affected.

In Chicago, at Midway
Airport, passengers suffered a different kind of scare.

A Delta flight was
quarantined on the runway, after a concerned passenger reported a family member
might have monkey pox from an earlier trip to Africa.

Medical staff reviewed
the case, but passengers say they were given little information and grew upset,
thinking the worst.

“You think am I going
to get off this plane? Am I gonna make it back home? Am I gonna be in a suit
just like the other people outside. We’re looking outside of our window and
they’re suiting people up in masks and in gloves and you know you only see that
stuff in the movies,” one passenger said.

“Quarantined… like
tell us what could this be, is it airborne? Is it topical? Is it viral? What is
it, what do you mean? Do you cover your mouth? I was not sitting next to
someone, I was sitting in one seat, no one next to me. So do I feel safe? Do I
not feel safe? I think my mind started playing games with me, I thought I was
itching you know it is just one of those things where you’re just not sure.”

Everyone on the
flight was able to leave after medical officials said the woman in question was
only suffering from bug bites (Fox
4 News, 2012).

Abstract: The number of cases
in the salmonella outbreak linked to raw
scraped ground tuna, often used for sushi, is now at 200 according to a Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention report Wednesday.

The outbreak, which has been seen in 21 states and the District of
Columbia, has hospitalized 28 people to date.

While the vast majority of cases were due to the strain, Salmonella
bareilly, the federal health agency reports that 5% of patients were infected
with a different strain, Salmonellaserotype Nchanga.

According to the CDC:

A total of 200 persons infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Bareilly
orSalmonella Nchanga have been reported from 21 states and the
District of Columbia.

190 persons
infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bareilly
have been reported from 21 states and the District of Columbia. The number
of ill persons with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Bareilly
identified in each state is as follows: Alabama (2), Arkansas (1),
Connecticut (8), District of Columbia (2), Florida (1), Georgia (9), Illinois
(15), Louisiana (3), Maryland (20), Massachusetts (24), Mississippi (2),
Missouri (4), New Jersey (18), New York (33), North Carolina (3),
Pennsylvania (7), Rhode Island (6), South Carolina (3), Texas (4),
Virginia (9), Vermont (1), and Wisconsin (15).

10 persons
infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Nchanga
have been reported from 5 states. The number of ill persons with the
outbreak strain of Salmonella Nchanga identified in each
state is as follows: Georgia (2), New Jersey (1), New York (5), Virginia
(1), and Wisconsin (1).

Title: Salmonella Paratyphi B Outbreak In North CarolinaDate: April 28, 2012Source:ExaminerAbstract: Health officials in
western North Carolina are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella that has
sickened at least 29 people as of Friday.

According to a Buncombe County Department of Health (BCDOH)
news release Friday, Communicable
Disease Nurses and Environmental Health Specialists are conducting interviews
with people who currently have or have had the infection, reviewing laboratory
reports and inspecting food sources that may be linked to the outbreak.

The outbreak strain has been identified as Salmonella Paratyphi B. The
source of the outbreak is still unknown.

Communicable disease experts from the NC Division of Public Health and
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as food specialists from
the NC Department of Agriculture are assisting with the investigations.

According to the release, all cases appear to have been associated with
residence or travel to Buncombe County since February 28, 2012.

Salmonella Paratyphi B can be spread from person to person or by eating food or water
contaminated with the feces of a person ill with Salmonella Paratyphi B
infection or a person who carries this infection in their body.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal
infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened
immune systems. Healthy persons infected with salmonella often experience
fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

In rare circumstances, infection with salmonella can result in the
organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such
as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

BCDOH health officials say taking the following steps can help prevent
infection with this bacterium:

· Good hand washing: wash hands after using the toilet or changing a
diaper; or before you fix, serve or eat food.

· Wash counters, cutting boards and utensils with soap and water after
they have been incontact with raw meat, poultry or eggs.

· Rinse all fruits and vegetables with running water before you eat
them.

A Hotline will be operational after 1:00 p.m. today to offer people a
way to call for accurate information about this outbreak. The
Hotline 828.250.5300 will have an automated message and a phone
number for people with symptoms to talk with a Communicable Disease Nurse.
Information is also available on the buncombecounty.org website.

Buncombe County is located in western North Carolina. Asheville is the
county seat (Examiner, 2012).

Abstract: After a food
poisoning outbreak left 35 people sick during a luncheon in late April, Pueblo,
Colorado health officials performed an inspection on the caterer, which
resulted in six critical violations and a temporary shutdown of the food
company.

The Pueblo City-County Health Department has temporarily closed All
Seasons Catering of 2800 N Elizabeth St in Pueblo Tuesday following a
Clostridium perfringens outbreak at the Pueblo Community Health Center's annual
meeting and luncheon, which sickened 35 individuals.

According to a Chieftain.com report Tuesday, based on interviews with everyone who became ill, the department found
a statistical association in several foods that could have been the culprit: a
beef-and-gravy dish, butter, tomatoes and lettuce served at the luncheon.

After interviewing the victims of the outbreak, health officials inspected All Seasons Catering and found 6 critical violations. The violations include observing an employee eating from pasta
bowl while prepping to observing an employee "trying" to check
temperature of pasta with bare hands, not using a thermometer to improper
cooling time/temperature for the food.

According to the Pueblo City-County Health Department, All Seasons
Catering was given a Public Health Order and a Notice of Temporary Suspension
of City Food Dealer Permit and Order of Closure due to food borne illness
outbreak directly associated with food served, this order is to protect the
public health from cause of epidemic and communicable disease.

All Seasons Catering cannot reopen until they satisfy the following
requirements:

· Creation of written procedures to include cooling, reheating, final
cook temperatures, hand-washing and sick employee policies.

· Proof of proper equipment and food cooling procedures.

· Must maintain temperature logs of all foods and refrigeration
equipment.

· Employees must participate in a food-safety class and pass a written
exam as well as demonstrate knowledge regarding proper food safety
practices/procedures.

· Submission of a written request for reinspection.

Clostridium perfringens is an organism most frequently associated with
gas gangrene is also a major cause of food poisoning. However, this
intoxication is a little different from those caused by Staphylococcus aureus
and Bacillus cereus where the ingestion of preformed toxin causes the illness.

With C. perfingens intoxication is due to a toxin mediated infection
where the ingested bacteria colonize in the intestinal tract and subsequently
produce their toxin.

Almost all outbreaks are associated with inadequately heated or reheated
meats, usually stews, meat pies, and gravies made from beef, turkey or chicken.

Outbreaks of Clostridium perfringens food poisoning are usually trace to
catering firms, restaurants, cafeterias and schools with inadequate cooling and
refrigeration facilities for large-scale service.

After a period of 8 to 22 hours, this intestinal disease is
characterized by a sudden onset of colic followed by diarrhea and nausea.
Vomiting and fever are not usually present.

It is generally a mild disease lasting about 24 hours or less. It is
rarely fatal in otherwise healthy people.

However there is a more severe disease caused a different strain of C.
perfringens (type C strains). This disease can cause necrotic enteritis which
is frequently fatal. Also known as pig-bel syndrome, this strain can cause
necrosis of the intestine and can go septic.

In order to prevent getting Clostridium perfringens food poisoning the
following steps should be taken:

• Serve meat dishes hot or cool them by refrigerating till serving.
• Large cuts of meat must be thoroughly cooked.
• For more rapid cooling of large dishes like stews, divide the stew into
several smaller, shallower containers and refrigerate (Examiner, 2012).

Abstract: President Barack
Obama recently invited a number of African leaders to join the G8 summit for a
discussion on food security, despite claims that he has failed to adequately
address food security issues at home.

The Pew Health Organization recently claimed that President Obama has
failed to protect the United States against agroterrorism or to adequately
monitor domestic food security, according to Examiner.com.

Several months after the Obama Administration claimed it enacted
sweeping legislation to protect the nation’s food supply, experts at a federal
symposium claimed that half of what Americans currently eat comes from
countries not covered by FDA measures aimed at guarding the food supply.

According to experts participating in the Federal Bureau of
Investigation’s International Symposium on Agroterrorism, the United States is
vulnerable to bioterrorism via tainted food.

The annual symposium, held this year in Kansas City, was held to help
foster information-sharing and collaboration between government agencies, the
private sector and academia. The complex nature of the relationships, however,
limits the nation’s ability to respond effectively to an attack, according to
experts (BioPrepWatch, 2012).

Title: Bad Salad Blamed For Ukraine Football Team Food PoisoningDate: June 9, 2012Source:Examiner

Ukrainian team doctors are now blaming the outbreak on a bad salad from
a German hotel.

According to a AP report, Ukraine team doctor Leonid Mironov said Thursday that he thinks the
players suffered from “the bad effects of eating a salad”.

The causative agent of the food poisoning outbreak was never
identified.

Ukrainian coach, Oleg Blokhin originally announced the illnesses
Wednesday after Turkey defeated Ukraine. Later on a report from Ukraine TV,
Blokhin even suggested the outbreak was the result of sabotage.

As far as the team is concerned, the situation is now “case closed” as
team spokesperson Oleksandr Glyvynskiy told The Associated Press there will be
no further investigation into the cause of the food poisoning.

The Ukraine is
co-hosting the 2012 European Football Championship with Poland. The tournament
will host 16 European clubs competing for the coveted championship. It will
continue until its finale on July 1 (Examiner, 2012).

Title: NAS Report On Agro-Defense Facility Due Out SoonDate: June 15, 2012Source:BioPrepWatch

Abstract: The National
Academies of Science recently announced that it will soon release a
congressionally mandated analysis on the risks posed by the planned National
Bio and Agro-Defense Facility.

Millions of dollars in stalled congressional funding are believed to be
linked to the results of the report, which is due out on Friday, according
to KCUR.org.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security planned for the project to be
constructed in Manhattan, Kansas, near the site of Kansas State University.
Currently, an armed guard and steel perimeter fence protect idle equipment on
the stalled construction site, according to Reuters.

The analysis is an updated version of the department’s original risk
assessment, which the NAS considered predicated on misguided assumptions and
methodologies. The new report will examine whether or not DHS has taken into
account the risks identified in the original, KCUR.org reports.

A second, separate
NAS review of the project, set to be released at a later date, will provide a
detailed analysis of whether or not the NBAF proposal is even necessary. DHS
requested the second review to study entirely different options, including a
scaled back version of the existing plans, a collaborative effort with private
firms or a renovation of the existing Plum Island Animal Disease Lab in New
York State (BioPrepWatch, 2012).

Abstract: Three Central Oregon residents have been hospitalized for food borne botulism after consuming home-canned foods at a private barbeque, according to health officials.

According to a Deschutes County Health Services news release Monday, this outbreak was an isolated incident and people who attended the barbeque have been notified. They assure residents that there is no risk to the public since botulism is NOT spread person-to-person.

Each year in the United States there are about 150 cases of botulism with about 25 of them specifically caused by contaminated foodstuffs. Food borne botulism is a severe intoxication caused by eating the preformed toxin present in contaminated food.

Food borne botulism occurs when the bacterium Clostridium botulinum is allowed to grow and produce toxin in food that is later eaten without sufficient heating or cooking to inactivate the toxin. Botulinum toxin is one of the most potent neurotoxins known.

Growth of this anaerobic bacteria and the formation of the toxin tend to happen in products with low acidity and oxygen content and low salt and sugar content. Inadequately processed, home-canned foods like asparagus, green beans, beets, and corn have commonly been implicated.

However, there have been outbreaks of botulism from more unusual sources such as chopped garlic in oil, chili peppers, improperly handled baked potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil and home-canned or fermented fish. Garden foods like tomatoes, which used to be considered too acidic for the growth of Clostridium botulinum, is now considered a potentially hazardous food in home canning.

Though more common in home-canned foods, it does happen occasionally in commercially prepared foods.

Typically in a few hours to several days after you eat the contaminated food you will start to show the classic symptoms; blurred vision, dry mouth, and difficulty in swallowing. Gastrointestinal symptoms may or may not occur. If untreated, the paralysis always descends through the body starting at the shoulders and working its way down.

The most serious complication of botulism is respiratory failure where it is fatal in up to 10% of people. It may take months before recovery is complete.

If the disease is caught early enough it can be treated with antitoxin. If paralysis and respiratory failure happen, the person may be on a ventilator for several weeks (Examiner, 2012).

Abstract: The Department of
Homeland Security announced this week that it has developed the first vaccine
for foot-and-mouth disease that can be licensed and manufactured in the United
States.

The vaccine could be used against the infectious animal disease in case
of an outbreak or attack. The vaccine is effective against just one strain of
the virus, but vaccines against other strains are being developed, the Los Angeles Times reports.

“This is the biggest news in (foot-and-mouth disease) research in the
last 50 years,” Lawrence Barrett, the director of the Plum Island Animal
Disease Center on Long Island, N.Y., said, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Symptoms of foot-and-mouth disease include blisters on the feet and
mouth, drooling, fever, loss of appetite and lameness. Animal herds that have
become infected with the disease are typically destroyed.

The virus can be spread by bodily secretions, breath, the ground and can
be transferred long distances by wind. While the United States has been free of
the disease since 1929, Britain had an outbreak of foot-and-mouth in 2001
requiring the culling of 10 million cows. An outbreak in the United States
could cost more than $50 billion.

Vaccines are
available against the virus but contain a live virus and thus cannot be legally
manufactured in the United States. The new vaccine contains a coat of proteins
that produces an immune response but does not contain genetic material of the
disease. The DHS worked with Antelope Valley Biologics and GenVec Inc. to
manufacture and license the vaccine (BioPrepWatch, 2012).

Abstract: The New Zealand
meat company, Bay Cuisine, has recalled certain salami, pepperoni and ham products
Wednesday after tests showed a possible link to a listeria
outbreak that sickened four and left two patients dead at a New Zealand
hospital.

Four patients with listeria presented at the Hastings hospital between
May and June. Two of the elderly patients from Hawke’s Bay died after
contracting the Listeria.

According to Hwke’s Bay Today:

Four patients with symptoms of listeria went to hospital on May 9 and
18, and June 21 and 29. The two women, one aged in her 60s and one her 80s were
both “immune-compromised” and died in June and July respectively, within a week
to 10 days of first arriving, said Hawke’s Bay District Health Board
Director of Population Health Dr Caroline McElnay.

Deputy Director General Compliance and Response said, ”MPI wants to
ensure any unsafe food is not available for sale and that
people do not eat any of the recalled products they may have bought already.”

MPI advises anyone who has any of the recalled products not to eat them
and to return them to where they bought them, or dispose of them via
the normal household rubbish.

Listeriosis, a serious infection usually caused by
eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria
monocytogenes, is an important public health problem. .
The disease primarily affects older adults, pregnant women, newborns,
and adults with weakened immune systems. However, rarely, persons without these
risk factors can also be affected.

Food contaminated
with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled.
Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and
nausea. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune
systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may
experience only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during
pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the
newborn, or even stillbirth (Outbreak News, 2012).

Title: Drakes Bay Oysters Linked To Vibrio Infections In CaliforniaDate: August 11, 2012Source:ExaminerAbstract:California health officials issued a warning to the public concerning the bacterial
risks associated with eating shucked and in-shell raw oysters from Drakes Bay
Oyster Company in Marin County.

The Inverness, California company initiated a
voluntary recall of the following affected products:

1. The shucked oysters
are packaged under the Drakes Bay Oyster Farm label and sold in 9 ounce,
1-pint, 1-quart and half-gallon jars or tubs. The affected shucked products are
labeled with lot numbers 363 through 421.

2. The in-shell raw
oysters are sold individually or in bags ranging in size from 1 dozen to 10
dozen. In-shell raw oyster tags are marked with harvest dates ranging from July
17, 2012, through August 8, 2012.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention saysVibrio
parahaemolyticus is a bacterium in the same family as those that cause
cholera. It lives in brackish saltwater and causes gastrointestinal illness in
humans. V. parahaemolyticus naturally inhabits coastal waters in the United
States and Canada and is present in higher concentrations during summer.

V. parahaemolyticus causes watery
diarrhea often with abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills.
Usually these symptoms occur within 24 hours of ingestion. Illness is usually
self-limited and lasts 3 days. Severe disease is rare and occurs more commonly
in persons with weakened immune systems.

CDPH recommends
consumers experiencing any ill effects after consuming these products should
consult their health care provider. Consumers that observe the product being
offered for sale are encouraged to report the activity to the CDPH toll-free
complaint line at (800) 495-3232 (Examiner, 2012).

Title: Canadian Mushrooms Recalled Due To Listeria ConcernsDate: August 15, 2012Source:ExaminerAbstract: Leamington, Ontario
grower, Highline Mushrooms is voluntarily recalling certain Sliced White
Mushrooms products because they may be contaminated with Listeriamonocytogenes.

Highline Mushrooms and Compliments sliced white mushrooms, sold in 227
gram containers bearing a lot code: L4100805 and a best before date of 12AU15.

The affected products were distributed in Ontario and possibly other
provinces.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of
these products.

Listeriosis, a serious infection usually caused by eating food
contaminated with the bacteriumListeria monocytogenes, is an important
public health problem. . The disease primarily affects older adults,
pregnantwomen, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems. However,
rarely, persons without these risk factors can also be affected.

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not
look or smell spoiled. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck
stiffness and nausea. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened
immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience
only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during pregnancy can lead to
premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

For more information,
consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 (Examiner, 2012).

Abstract: The death of two
Hillsborough County, Florida residents has prompted health officials to issue a
warning about a potentially deadly bacterial infection contracted from
eating raw or undercooked oysters or swimming in local waters with open wounds.

According to a BayNews9 report Tuesday, in addition to the two fatalities, the Hillsborough County Health
Department (HCHD) said an additional five other cases of Vibrio
vulnificus have been reported in the county.

Throughout the Tampa Bay area and the state of Florida, raw oyster bars
are everywhere and the places are packed with patrons. However for a certain
group of people, the bacterium that lurks in the oyster can cause a rapid and
extremely serious illness.

As the summer comes and the waters start getting warmer, the waters
where oysters, clams, crabs and finfish are harvested appear to become more
concentrated with Vibrio vulnificus.

Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium
that is found in all coastal waters of the United States. It has also been
found in brackish waters of some interior states. It may be normal flora in
salt water and acquiring this organism from shellfish or water exposure does
not imply that the water is contaminated by sewage. Most infections that happen
are attributed to consuming raw oysters harvested in the Gulf of Mexico during
the summer. Because the oysters are shipped all over the country, infections
are not limited to the Gulf States.

Oysters are sedentary bivalve mollusks that feed by filtering
plankton (small plants and animals) from estuarine water. Because Vibrio
vulnificus occurs naturally in the same waters that oysters feed, the bacteria
is ingested and becomes assimilated and concentrated in the animal’s tissues.

Healthy, non at-risk individuals are not at
risk for serious infection. Non at-risk
patients with gastroenteritis have a relatively mild illness consisting of
vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps and rarely require hospitalization.

However there are certain medical conditions that can put you at risk
for very rapid, serious and possibly deadly disease. Individuals with diabetes,
liver disease like cirrhosis, leukemia, AIDS or those who take
immunosuppressive drugs or steroids are particularly susceptible to primary septicemia,
a serious “blood poisoning”. In these individuals the bacteria gets into the
bloodstream resulting in septic shock and death in more than 50% of those
infected.

Wound infections are another problem with Vibrio vulnificus.
These infections result either from contaminating an open wound with sea water
harboring the organism, or by lacerating part of the body on coral, fish, etc.,
followed by contamination with the organism.

This infection can be diagnosed by isolating the organism in stool, wound
or blood cultures. It can be treated with a antibiotic regimen and supportive
care.

What can you do to prevent this infection? Patients with chronic liver
disease or immunocompromising conditions are particularly vulnerable to
infection and are advised to avoid raw or undercooked seafood. Persons with
open wounds should avoid contact with warm seawater.

• Avoid contact with raw seafood juices; use separate cutting boards and
knives for seafood and nonseafood
• Avoid eating raw oysters or seafood, especially if an immunocompromising
condition or chronic liver disease is present; the risk is highest with seafood
harvested in the summer
• Cook shellfish thoroughly:
• In the shell: boil until the shells open, then boil for another five minutes;
or steam until the shells open, then steam for another nine minutes (do not eat
shellfish that do not open during cooking)
• Shucked oysters: boil for at least three minutes, or fry for at least 10
minutes at 375°F (191°C)
• Promptly refrigerate leftover seafood
• Wear gloves when handling raw oysters or shellfish
Persons with open wounds:
• Avoid contact between open wounds and seawater, especially if water
temperature is more than 68°F (20°C), or raw seafood
• Wash any wound that is exposed to seawater with soap and clean water
• Immediately seek medical care for any wound that appears infected (Global Dispatch, 2012).

Abstract: Three commercial
shellfish growing areas in Washington State have been closed for the rest of the summer due to a rash of
bacterial infections according to health officials.

According to a Washington
State Department of Health (WSDH) news release Thursday, the three affected areas are Totten Inlet near Olympia, North Bay and
Dabob Bay in north Hood Canal. Health officials say that 30 people have been
sickened by the gastrointestinal bacterium, Vibrio parahaemolyticus this
summer. The bacterium is increased in the warm summer waters.

Health authorities say the growing areas will be reopened in October
when waters cool down.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Vibrio
parahaemolyticus is a bacterium in the same family as those that cause
cholera. It lives in brackish saltwater and causes gastrointestinal illness in
humans. V. parahaemolyticus naturally inhabits coastal waters
in the United States and Canada and is present in higher concentrations during
summer.
People get vibriosis from eating raw or undercooked oysters that have Vibrio
parahaemolyticus bacteria in them.

V. parahaemolyticus causes watery
diarrhea often with abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills.
Usually these symptoms occur within 24 hours of ingestion. Illness is usually
self-limited and lasts 3 days. Severe disease is rare and occurs more commonly
in persons with weakened immune systems.

The WSDH advise about the proper cooking of shellfish. Cooking shellfish
until the shells just open is not enough to kill Vibrio bacteria. Shellfish
should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F for at least 15
seconds. Don’t rinse cooked oysters in seawater, which can re-contaminate them.

In addition, consumers should put shellfish on ice or refrigerate
immediately after you buy or harvest them this summer. Make sure you’re buying
from a reputable source that handles shellfish correctly with good cooling
practices (refrigeration or ice) (Examiner, 2012).

Abstract: Health officials in Indiana and Kentucky say they are investigating farms, distributors and retailers after an outbreak of salmonella that has killed two and sickened at least 141 people nationwide was linked to cantaloupe grown in southwestern Indiana.

Officials Friday advised all Indiana residents to discard cantaloupes purchased since July 7.

The Kentucky Department of Public Health warned people not to eat the cantaloupes. Tests found the fruit carried the same strain of salmonella that has killed two and sickened more than 50 in Kentucky.

Salmonella infections result in diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. Most people recover without treatment, but severe infections can occur in infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says 31 have been hospitalized in this outbreak that has hit 20 states (USA Today, 2012).

Title: E.Coli-Tainted Pickled Cabbage Linked To The Deaths Of At Least Seven
In JapanDate: August 19, 2012Source:Examiner

Abstract: In what Japanese
health officials are calling “the deadliest mass food poisoning in a decade”,
at least seven people have died and more than 100 have been sickened after
eating a popular Japanese side dish.

According to a Japan
Today report Sunday, the implicated food
in this E. coli outbreak is lightly pickled Chinese cabbage produced by
Sapporo-based company, Iwai Shokuhin on the northern island of Hokkaido.

Health authorities report six of the seven fatalities were in elderly
women who consumed the cabbage at a Sapporo nursing home, while the other death
was a Sapporo child. A total of 103 have were infected by the bacterial
pathogen according to the report.

Japanese health official, Seiichi Miyahara says, "It is not easy to
determine how the bacteria were mixed with the pickles. We don't know yet
whether there was any major problem in sanitary control at the company."

Prior to this E.coli outbreak, the worst food poisoning event was in
2002, when nine people died from E. coli bacteria poisoning after eating a
marinated chicken and vegetable dish at a hospital and its annex, a nursing
home for the aged, in the provincial city of Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says Escherichia coli are a
bacterium that is commonly found in the gut of humans and warm-blooded animals.
Most strains of E. coli are harmless. Some strains however, such as
enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), can cause severe foodborne disease. It is
transmitted to humans primarily through consumption of contaminated foods, such
as raw or undercooked ground meat products and raw milk.

Symptoms of the diseases caused by EHEC include abdominal cramps and
diarrhea that may in some cases progress to bloody diarrhea. The infection may
lead to a life-threatening disease, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
HUS is characterized by acute renal failure, hemolytic anemia and
thrombocytopenia. It is estimated that up to 10% of patients with EHEC
infection may develop HUS, with a case-fatality rate ranging from 3% to 5% (Examiner, 2012).

Abstract: A Northern
California produce supplier said Sunday it is voluntarily recalling romaine
lettuce that was shipped to 19 states, Puerto Rico and Canada over fears about
possible E. coli contamination.

Salinas-based Tanimura & Antle said the recall is limited to a
single lot of its Field Fresh Wrapped Single Head Romaine that was available at
retail stores starting Aug. 2. The lettuce is packed in a plastic bag with the
UPC number 0-27918-20314-9, and it may have a "best by" date of Aug.
19.

The company said some 2,095 cases were potentially affected. Of those,
1,969 cases were shipped to Puerto Rico and the following states: Alabama,
Arkansas, Arizona, California, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, North
Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

The product was packed with either 12 or 18 heads per case.

The recall was being
conducted in consultation with Food and Drug Administration, and was based on
the testing of a random sample by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. There
have been no reported illnesses associated with consumption of this product (Fox News, 2012).